World Sailing unveils line up for second season of the Sustainability Sessions

World Sailing unveils line up for second season of the Sustainability Sessions © World Sailing

Following the success of the first series of sustainability webinars, World Sailing's Sustainability Sessions is returning for second season with 14 new topics designed to empower Member National Authorities, Classes, event organisers, sailing clubs and anyone involved in the sport to improve their sustainability.

The Sustainability Sessions will be free, open to anyone, expert-led and cover topics such as marine regeneration projects at the America's Cup, reducing harmful emissions through boat building innovation, recycling wetsuits and neoprene items to reuse items and reduce waste, and how to become a 'Clean Class'.

The new season will feature leaders in sustainability including BENCHES, Stream2Sea and Circular Flow.

The series starts on 9 October 2024 with look at how the America's Cup is embracing biodiversity projects in Barcelona with BCN Sotamar, a collaborative project between BCN Port, the America's Cup and World Sailing.

Future Sustainability Sessions will feature IMOCA, the Ocean Race, the Swedish Sailing Federation and the 29er Class to show how all areas of the sport are working to protect the natural environment. There will also be a session hosted by 2023 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award finalist, the Flipflopi project, to share their story about sailing the world's first recycled plastic sailing dhow.

Alexandra Rickham, World Sailing's Director of Sustainability, said, "The success of the first season of Sustainability Sessions showed the variety of ways in which our community is integrating sustainability into their everyday operations, as well as the appetite for doing even more. We are delighted to return with new opportunities to share success stories and highlight just some of the many great sustainability initiatives taking place around the world.

"Our sport continues to make progress towards the goals of the World Sailing Sustainability Agenda 2030, our strategy for sailing's contribution to global sustainability, and improving awareness of what is possible in the sport. The launch of our first Sustainability Annual Report has set the baseline for where we stand and what else needs to be done.

"The second season of the Sustainability Sessions builds on this work and aims to inspire further change at every level of the sport. Each session is an open, collaborative discussion, which is led by experts and an opportunity for everyone in the sport to take part and learn more about the topics."

Season 2 of the Sustainability Sessions:

2024

• 9 October - Sustainability at The America's Cup: From Competition to Conservation
• 24 October - Reducing the impact of boat building with IMOCA
• 13 November - Wetsuit Recycling with Circular Flow
• 27 November - Feeding our Oceans with Stream2Sea
• TBC - Para Sailing
• TBC - Focus on Women in Performance Sailing

2025

• 8 January - Utilising Plastic Waste in Kenya with Flipflopi
• 22 January - Educating Young Sailors with The Ocean Race
• 5 February - Sustainability at the National Level by The Swedish Sailing Federation
• 19 February - Clean Class with the 29er Class
• TBC - Female Coaching
• TBC - World Water Day
• 2 April - Impact of Sport on Biodiversity with BENCHES
• 16 April - Club Vela Ballena Alegre